The main difference between developed countries and developing countries is that developed countries are more industrialized and have highest per capita income levels while developing countries are less industrialized and have lower per capita income levels.
Comparison Chart
| Basis of Distinction | Developed Countries | Developing Countries |
| Definition | These are properly developed industrialized and have highest Human Development Index (HDI) | Developing countries have less developed industrial base and have a low HDI |
| Standard of Living | High | Low |
| Revenue Source | Industrial sector | Service sector |
| Women Improvement | Women are working in high-ranking executive positions | Women don’t work and work only in clerical jobs |
| Debt | Low debt levels | Higher level of debts |
| Ecological Situation | Larger ecological footprint | Smaller ecological footprint |
| Poverty and Unemployment | Low | High |
| Distribution of Wealth | Equal | Unequal |
| Factors of Production | Effectively utilized | Ineffectively utilized |
| Examples | United States, Canada, Australia, Sweden, France, Germany, Italy, Switzerland, Norway, Japan | Pakistan, India, Kenya, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Colombia, Nepal, Iran, Iraq |
Developed Countries
Developed countries that are also known as More Economically Developed Country are sovereign states that have a highly advanced economy and technological infrastructure. These are more industrialized than less developed or developing countries. The criteria for measuring the economic development of any country is GNP, GDP, per capita income, better infrastructure and highest standard of living. The main characteristic of developed countries is that these have postindustrial economies means the service sector provides more wealth than the industrial sector. The another factor of development and statistical measure in developed countries is Human Development Index of United that measures a country’s level of human development. Developed countries are doing well in all areas including better standard of living, education and communication facilities, health care, high GDP, higher per capita, technological development, increased life expectancy, etc. The revenue in developed countries comes from the industrial sector rather than service sector.
Developing Countries
Developing countries that are also known as underdeveloped and less developed countries are countries with low Human Development Index and less developed industrial base. As compared to developed countries, these relays heavily on service and agriculture sector rather than industrial sector. The factors that make any country a developing or less developed country are lower life expectancy, less education and less literacy rate, less money, unequal utilization of wealth, higher fertility and pregnancy rate. Less developed countries depend upon the policies of the developed countries to support them establishing industries across the country. They have improper government and unstable political system. The country doesn’t enjoy the better standard of living because of the differences between having and have not. Women don not play a greater role in these countries and are restricted to clerical nature of jobs only. Improper utilization of natural resources and external debts make any country a developing country.
Key Differences between Developed Countries and Developing Countries
- Developed countries are more industrialized than developing countries.
- The birth and death rates are stable in developed countries. Facilities and living standards are also high in developed countries while all these are lacking in the developing countries.
- The inhabitants of developing countries have no access to modern day technologies that are widely available to people of developed countries.
- In developed countries, the industrial sector is considered as the backbone of the economy while in developing countries agriculture sector is considered as the backbone of the economy.
- In developed countries, there is an equal distribution of wealth and resources while differences between having and have not are considerably high in developing countries.
- Developed countries have stable governments and political system whereas developing countries have unstable governments and follow the procedures of developing countries.
- All kind of natural and human resources are properly utilized in developed countries whereas in developing countries these are not properly utilized.
- Due to better health care facilities, developed countries have the highest life expectancy that is considerably low in developing countries.
- Developed countries have the highest GDP and per capita income while developing countries are still at initial stages in both these areas.
- In developed countries, revenue comes from industrial sector while in developing countries, revenue comes from the service sector.
- Developed countries are those that have already faced the period of industrialization and are self-contained flourished. Whereas developing countries are those that are still experiencing the period of development and industrialization.
- In developed countries, pure and clean water is supplied with a plentiful supply of food items and goods housing conditions while dirty, and unsafe water is supplied in developing countries. Examples of developed countries are United States, Canada, Australia, Sweden, France, Germany, Italy, Switzerland, Norway, and Japan. Examples of developing countries are Pakistan, India, Kenya, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Colombia, Nepal, Iran, and Iraq.